Payment of reparation attracts mixed reactions from beneficiaries

There have been mixed reactions to the quantum of reparations being paid to victims of human rights abuses as payments began in Ho on Thursday. A total of 375 people are expected to benefit from the reparations in the Volta region, an official told newsmen. Mr Donkor Ayifli, one of the victims rejected the two million cedis paid to him, describing the amount as "a mockery". He said his pain would rather deepen if he should accept the amount and that he would have been content with a "certificate". Mr Ayifli, a member of the Steering Committee of the Convention Peoples Party (CPP), said he lost his tractor parts and a store and was in prison custody for a long time and hauled before the Public Tribunal 14 times. He alleged that recipients did not sign any receipts to acknowledge receipt of the amounts they were paid. Another recipient who would neither identify himself nor the amount of money he was paid, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that he was disappointed at the amount because he lost two cars and building materials, with which he was about to put up a storey building. He did not return the money. One of officials involved in the payment and would not identify herself however advised that anybody who was dissatisfied with what he was being paid could still petition the relevant authorities. She explained that what was being paid was not compensation because the government could not pay such compensations. On the other hand, 85-year-old Raphael Larbi, who told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that he was forced into self-exile in Togo from 1960 until 1966, said he was thankful to God for the amount paid to him especially for the step taken by government as a show of remorse on behalf of the State and wished the government well. Mr William Dusu, 51, who said he was beaten mercilessly by soldiers for daring to challenge them for selling his wife's kenkey unlawfully said "I was not expecting the amount I was paid" and that the important thing was not the quantum of money being paid out but the spirit behind it. Mr Ricky Atiana, 56, said the reparation was important because it showed the weakness of rights abuses against forgiveness, peace and reconciliation and that wrongs could never be hidden. Mr Gershon Kwaku Dompreh, formerly with the Ghana News Agency who was granted unconditional Presidential pardon after serving eight out of 20 years in prison “for conspiracy to do an act and doing an act detrimental to the sovereign people of Ghana”, could not be paid because his name was missing among those eligible. He was asked to petition. There were others whose names could similarly not be traced while others were asked to follow up to Accra. Meanwhile, those who would not be able to make it to Ho by Friday 24, November 2006 to collect their reparations could contact the Attorney-General's Department.GNA